Friday, December 5, 2014, I had the joy and privilege of delivering a check to the Landing Food Pantry in Akron, Ohio because of YOU, my readers. In September, I published A Plain Malice, the fourth and final novel in the Appleseed Creek Mystery Series and decided to donate 100% of my royalties I earned through Thanksgiving Day to the Landing. The support and excitement from my readers was amazing, and because so many of you bought the novel and shared news about it with your friends and family, I gave the Landing a check totaling $4,420.81!!

My brother and sister-in-law, Andrew and Nicole Flower, manage the Landing in the basement of Akron Christian Reformed Church with a group of dedicated volunteers. The food pantry feeds over sixty families in the church’s neighborhood on $200 per week. You can learn more about the Landing in this article and video recently published in the Akronist. You can read the original post about the giveback plan here.

Thank you and God bless you! I’m truly humbled by the outpouring of support for the Landing and for my writing.

I’m celebrating the upcoming release of the 3rd Amish Quilt Shop Mystery, MURDER, SERVED SIMPLY, on December 2, 2014 by giving away an adorable 2″x3″ magnet of the novel’s cover to everyone who pre-orders the MURDER, SERVED SIMPLY.

To get your adorable magnet pre-order the book in either print or electronic and complete the form at this link: ORDER FORM

I’m so excited to share the cover of the The Final Reveille with you! This is the first novel in The Living History Museum Mystery Series. It will release May 8, 2015!

A Civil War Reenactment just got deadly…

About the Book…

As the director of Barton Farm, a living history museum in Ohio, Kelsey Cambridge is underpaid and underappreciated, but she loves every minute of it. Determined to keep the struggling Farm open, she plans to impress the museum’s wealthy benefactress, Cynthia Cherry, with a four-day Civil War reenactment on the Farm’s grounds, complete with North and South encampments, full-scale battles, and an Abraham Lincoln lookalike spouting the Gettysburg Address to anyone who will listen. Unfortunately, the first shot in the battle isn’t from a period rifle but from Cynthia’s greedy nephew, Maxwell, who plans to close the Farm when he inherits his ill aunt’s wealth. On the first day of the reenactment, Cynthia and Maxwell stop by, and Kelsey and Maxwell have a public argument over the Farm’s funding. The next morning, things go from bad to worse for Kelsey when she discovers Maxwell dead in the brickmaker’s pit. Now Kelsey is the police’s number one suspect, and she must start her own investigation to save the museum . . . and herself while the War Between the States rages on around her.

Early reviews

“Cleverly set in the middle of a civil war reenactment, THE FINAL REVEILLE features a spunky, likeable sleuth and engaging characters. You’ll want to visit them in charming Barton Farm again and again. A thoroughly enjoyable mystery with history, humor, and heart!” -Krista Davis, NYT Bestselling Author of the Domestic Diva Mystery Series

“A spunky heroine in a fast-paced mystery….what a fun book to read!” – Mary Ellis, author of Civil War Heroines series

Last week, I was in Florida on a writing retreat. It was a great time spent on the west coast with writing friends. Lots of wonderful things happened while I was there: I started a new project, I spent time with my super agent/friend, and I saw a baby dolphin off the coast of Sanibel Island. But the most wonderful thing was a call from my an editor to tell me I was a national bestselling author since my Amish Quilt Shop Mysteries hit the Barnes and Noble bestseller’s list. I was completely shocked and overjoyed! I have my fabulous readers to thank for making this happens. Thank you! It’s something I never dared to dream of. You always encourage me to write more and dream bigger.

Of course, Dead Fred tagged along to the Sunshine State. Enjoy his photo journal!

To celebrate the release of Appleseed Creek #4, A Plain Malice, I am giving away five paperback copies of Appleseed Creek #3 A Plain Disappearance. ( Giveaway copies have very slight water damage. Photo of actual copies is below.)

More about A Plain Malice

Finally, it’s here! The book you’ve been waiting for! After months of ups and downs, A Plain Malice, the fourth and final novel in the Appleseed Creek Mystery Series is set to release. It’s been quite a journey to see this book in print, and I would have given up if it hadn’t been for the encouragement of you, the readers.

Since I’ve always considered this novel a gift to my readers, I have decided to donate all of my royalties for the novel that I earn through Thanksgiving Day to charity.

Preorder or purchase any edition of A Plain Malice between now and Thursday, November 27, 2014, and 100% of my royalties will go to a local food pantry, The Landing, located in Akron, Ohio. My brother and sister-in-law, Andrew and Nicole Flower, manage the Landing in the basement of Akron Christian Reformed Church with a group of dedicated volunteers. The food pantry feeds over sixty families in the church’s neighborhood on $200 per week. You can learn more about the Landing in this article and video recently published in the Akronist.

The Kindle and Nook edition released on September 16th. September 16th is a special day for me because it’s my mother’s birthday, and I can’t think of a better way to honor her memory than to release A Plain Malice on her birthday. She read it before she passed away and said it was her favorite of all of my books.

Finally, it’s here! The book you’ve been waiting for! After months of ups and downs, A Plain Malice, the fourth and final novel in the Appleseed Creek Mystery Series is set to release. It’s been quite a journey to see this book in print, and I would have given up if it hadn’t been for the encouragement of you, the readers.

Since I’ve always considered this novel a gift to my readers, I have decided to donate all of my royalties for the novel that I earn through Thanksgiving Day to charity.

Preorder or purchase any edition of A Plain Malice between now and Thursday, November 27, 2014, and 100% of my royalties will go to a local food pantry, The Landing, located in Akron, Ohio. My brother and sister-in-law, Andrew and Nicole Flower, manage the Landing in the basement of Akron Christian Reformed Church with a group of dedicated volunteers. The food pantry feeds over sixty families in the church’s neighborhood on $200 per week. You can learn more about the Landing in this article and video recently published in the Akronist.

The Kindle and Nook edition released on September 16th. September 16th is a special day for me because it’s my mother’s birthday, and I can’t think of a better way to honor her memory than to release A Plain Malice on her birthday. She read it before she passed away and said it was her favorite of all of my books.

When I was a young writer and wanted to sell just one mystery novel to a publisher, I never dreamed that one day my publisher would fly me across the country to sign books. I’ve been blessed enough that I have had this oporunity several times over the last few years. However, this upcoming weekend will be a real pinch me moment when I sign free copies of my novels at the American Library Association Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada in both the Penguin and Zondervan/HarperCollins booths. I never dreamed that big!

So fellow librarians if you will be at ALA this weekend, please see me and grab one of my free titles. I can’t wait to talk about books, writing, and all things librarianish!